Alaska Pride Fest. | Photo: Flickr/Mel Green
Voters in Anchorage, Alaska—the state’s most populous city—chose to reject an anti-transgender bathroom bill. This comes just weeks after the Alaska state legislature approved a bill protecting LGBTI people from discrimination.
The anti-trans bill, called Proposition 1, would have required anyone in Anchorage’s public spaces to use the restrooms or locker rooms that match the gender they were assigned at birth. If passed, Prop 1 would have banned transgender and non-binary people from using the facilities they’re most comfortable in.
According to the Anchorage Daily News, 77,000 citizens voted roughly 53-47 against Prop 1. Considering Alaska is mostly a conservative state, this was a huge step forward.
With the defeat of Prop 1, measures to protect trans people from discrimination that were approved by the Anchorage Assembly in 2015 will remain intact.
The triumph on social media
Pro-LGBTI organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), GLAAD, and Alaska-based Fair Anchorage celebrated this win on social media.
We didn’t just make history in #Anchorage tonight. This victory will be felt nationwide—as the first time a jurisdiction has ever upheld #trans protections on a standalone ballot measure! #NoOnProp1 pic.twitter.com/h61KxFkCfj
— Fair Anchorage (@FairAnchorage) April 7, 2018
To every #transgender person in #Anchorage: This victory is yours. It’s your stories and bravery that brought down Prop 1. We’re all so proud to live in a city where everyone is treated fairly and equally under the law! #NoOnProp1
— Fair Anchorage (@FairAnchorage) April 7, 2018
By voting #NoOnProp1, #Anchorage has sent a powerful message that it is a welcoming and inclusive city for all, including transgender people. https://t.co/2jwuV0qFjI pic.twitter.com/Ra5WwgyCmn
— Human Rights Campaign (@HRC) April 7, 2018
JUST IN: Anchorage, Alaska voters upheld transgender rights at the ballot box, voting against a measure to remove transgender protections from city ordinances. https://t.co/8sd6R7U78h pic.twitter.com/noJyo8BTj1
— Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) April 7, 2018
Team! It’s time to chat. We just saw a big victory in Anchorage, so let’s continue our chat from last week and give shout outs to our personal victories from this week. What were yours? Let’s celebrate each other. We’ll be here all night responding and retweeting. ❤💙❤
— GLAAD (@glaad) April 7, 2018
Sending so much love and thanks to the Anchorage trans community who weathered a dehumanizing attack on their dignity to defeat hate at the polls today! A major victory for trans equality.
— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) April 7, 2018
VICTORY in Anchorage as discriminatory Prop 1 goes down in defeat! Thanks to all the Equality Voters who turned out, and all the community leaders, businesses, faith leaders, & public officials who spoke out for equality. #NoOnProp1 https://t.co/6MqR5LQfAG
— Chad Griffin (@ChadHGriffin) April 7, 2018
It’s still not fully over
‘While we should all celebrate today with Anchorage, we know our work in Alaska is not done,’ said Elias Rojas, board president for Alaskans Together for Equality.
‘Working side by side with partners like the Equality Federation, we will all look forward to the day when every LGBTQ Alaskan—and every LGBTQ visitor to Alaska—enjoys the protections that citizens of Anchorage affirmed this week.’
